High-average-power SRS conversion of radiation in a BaWO₄crystal

The SRS conversion of high-repetition-rate trains of self-phase-conjugated giant pulses of a Nd:YAG laser is studied in a BaWO4 crystal. The SRS radiation with the average power up to 7.5 W and the single-pulse energy in a train of 30 mJ was obtained at the SRS conversion efficiency of 20% — 30%. The optical power of a thermal lens produced in the BaWO4 crystal pumped by the 30-W laser radiation was 0.12 m-1, which is an order of magnitude lower than in the known Ba(NO3)2 crystal.